Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
Lille should still be able to win this match, despite their midweek Champions League fixture. Montpellier, who are currently struggling with a series of defeats, will attempt to resist them.
Lille
Lille’s 1:1 draw in Dortmund was a strong result, but they must now shift focus back to Ligue 1, where their inconsistency has left them fifth in the standings—a position that doesn’t guarantee a return to Europe’s top competition. Their last league defeat came in Matchweek 24 against Paris Saint-Germain, which is understandable, given the Parisians' dominance this season.
Montpellier
Montpellier’s horrendous run of five straight defeats has left them rock bottom of the table, trailing even the relegation play-off spot by five points. Defensively, they have been a disaster, conceding either two or four goals in each of those five losses. The winter transfer window further weakened their attack, as Montpellier offloaded top scorers Akor Adams (4 goals) and Arnaud Nordin (3 goals), leaving them with minimal firepower up front. Their last positive result came back in January, when they won two matches in a row.
Lille vs Montpellier Prediction
Lille are far superior to their opponents and should have no trouble dispatching Montpellier. The visitors are in deep crisis, while Lille remain competitive despite their European distractions. Expect a comfortable home win.
